Longtime ESPN Announcer Mike Tirico to Start NBC Sports Gig in July

Mike Tirico will join NBC Sports Group starting July 1, the company announced during a press conference on Monday, where he shared that the upcoming Olympics were a major factor in his decision to leave longtime employer ESPN.

“I am thrilled to join this outstanding team,” Tirico said. “For me, NBC Sports has always represented the highest quality in television sports production and the chance to now be a part of that is a dream come true. It is a perfect time in my career to take on new opportunities, and I am excited to do that with an exceptional group of people.”

Regarding the timing of his departure, “I would have stayed at ESPN for a long time if the opportunity of a lifetime didn’t come up,” Tirico said, referencing NBC’s coverage of the Summer and Winter Games combined with NFL content.

“Mike is an elite talent who can contribute to all of our biggest events,” NBC Sports EP Sam Flood said. “The opportunity to add Mike to NBC Sports Group’s lineup, which is already the strongest in sports broadcasting, was too good to be true.”

Tirico has been with ESPN since 1991 and has been the voice of “Monday Night Football” since 2006. In addition to “MNF,” he was the voice of the Open Championship, The Masters, NBA, college football, college basketball, FIFA World Cup, and tennis Grand Slam tournaments, the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

Perhaps Jimmy Kimmel is ready for a lifestyle change but would like to remain with ABC.

Joel McHale seems like the type of personality who would thrive on "Live!"

NBA fans would hate to see Charles Barkley leave his current gig with TNT, but "Live!" viewers would probably love him.

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg has already proven to be a popular morning show host with “Mike & Mike.”

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Akbar Gbaja-Biamila has extensive hosting experience on NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" and "NFL Fantasy Live," and also shares Strahan's football background having played for the Raiders, Chargers and Dolphins.

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Everyone from comedians to athletes could vie for the job the former NFL star is leaving as he heads to ABC’s “Good Morning America”